Reading-born comedian Ricky Gervais has thrown his support behind a new campaign calling for an end to housing policies that leave homeless people and their pets excluded from support.
The No One Left Outside campaign was launched during a speech to the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) on Tuesday. Campaigners highlighted the growing crisis faced by people experiencing homelessness who are routinely turned away from accommodation because they refuse to abandon their pets.
Advocates warn that the consequences are devastating, forcing vulnerable individuals to remain on the streets rather than give up animals that provide companionship, safety, and emotional stability.
Street Paws, a charity supporting homeless people and their pets across the north of England, is calling for urgent changes to government housing policy. It is asking social landlords not to unreasonably refuse pets where a risk assessment shows it is safe to allow them.
Campaigners stress that this principle already exists in the private rented sector and requires no new legislation or funding—only clarity, consistency, and compassion in policy-making. They argue that such a change could immediately remove one of the biggest barriers keeping people with pets trapped on the streets.
The campaign has been backed by celebrity animal advocates Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan, both of whom appeared in the hit TV series After Life. The show’s dog character, Brandy, was played by Antilly, a former Street Paws ambassador.
Peter Egan said: “After Life showed so beautifully what animals mean to us at our most vulnerable—not as comforts, but as companions, family, and anchors to hope. Street Paws understands that truth in the real world. No one facing homelessness should be forced to abandon the animal they love in order to find safety. The No One Left Outside campaign is rooted in compassion, common sense and humanity, and I am proud to support it.”
Ricky Gervais also paid tribute to Antilly and highlighted the bond between homeless people and their pets. He said:
“Antilly is a much-missed friend, and anyone who knew her will understand why she and her human Ashley were ambassadors for the remarkable work of Street Paws. She showed, on and off screen, that dogs aren’t accessories, they’re family. For people facing homelessness, that bond can be everything. No one should ever be forced to choose between a home and the animal they love.”
Street Paws founder Michelle Southern OBE described the reality faced by many of the charity’s clients:
“For the people we work with, their dog or cat is often the only constant in a life shaped by trauma, loss and instability. When accommodation providers refuse pets, they are not offering help—they are issuing an impossible ultimatum. No one should be expected to surrender a beloved companion to access safety, warmth or support. This change is desperately needed because compassion should never be conditional.”
The campaign aims to work with MPs, local authorities, housing providers, and support services to promote pet-inclusive policies, share best practices, and ensure homelessness strategies recognise the welfare of both people and their animals.
Supporters can sign the petition at No One Left Outside: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/753095
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